This species is found in dry to wet lowland forests, but have also been recorded from rubber estates in Southeast Asia. This species roosts in small colonies or family units in old mines, cracks, culverts and crevices in old buildings, caves, among large boulders, overhanging ledges, tunnels, dungeons, forts, temples and churches. In Malaysia, this species has also been found in caves in the mangrove forests (Juliana Senawi, pers. comm. August, 2018). On Borneo it has been found roosting in caves in small groups with H. cervinus, as well as in colonies of hundreds of animals (Payne et al. 1998). On Sanana Island it has been found in a colony of several hundred individuals sharing a large cave with six other bat species (Flannnery 1995). It is a low flier and feeds on beetles and other insects (Bates and Harrison 1997). In Sri Lanka, the species is observed to change roost sites frequently (W. Yapa and P.C.M.B. Digana pers. comm.).

This species is widely distributed in South Asia and Southeast Asia. In South Asia it is presently known from Bangladesh (Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions), India (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala (Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu (2017), Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa (Debata et al. 2015)) and Sri Lanka (Central, North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Western provinces) (Molur et al. 2002, Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 2012). On mainland Southeast Asia, the species has been recorded from western and southern Thailand (including Terutau Island), Cambodia (four specimens have been recorded but no exact localities are available [Borissenko and Kruskop 2003]), Siem Reap Province, northwest Cambodia (Phauk et al. 2013), southern Lao PDR (C.M. Francis pers. comm.), southern Viet Nam, and Peninsular Malaysia (including Penang Island) (Sazali and Aziz 2012). Within insular Southeast Asia, the species has been recorded from the islands of Sumatra, Bangka and Java (all to Indonesia), the island of Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), and from the island of Sanana in the Sula Islands (Indonesia) (Flannery 1995). There is a record from the island of Bali (Indonesia) but it may be erroneous (Kock and Dobat 2000).

This has been recorded from protected areas in its range both in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Further studies into its taxonomy thereby the true distribution extent and population status are needed.